New to the forum, looking for some advice to help put bass in the boat. I've been marking some good sized schools of what i believe are alewives (main forage) out in open water with plenty of bass on them. But i can not seem to coax them into biting. The school is typically down about 15 - 20 feet. I've been trying deep driving crank baits, drop shots and jigs to get down to their depth. No one seems interested in my offerings and im guessing its because there pretty keyed in on the alewives and my big crank baits are not of the right size etc. Any ideas on how to get something in front of them? Any advice is appreciated, as im sure you all know there is not much more frustrating than finding fish but not being able to hook up. 

Souds like a perfect time to throw a silver buddy.

Stroke a flutter spoon or lipless crank. If that doesn't work, get right ontop of them and start jigging a blade bait, my favorite is the Damiki Vault.

Nope- I am from that same scenario-The technique I use is throwing a flick shake senko type bait ( shad color or white)Counting it down and shaking it very quickly/violently- then letting it die. Its one of the only techniques that I can really count on when the bait is roaming around and the bass are underneath them. Ok Im done

Nope- I am from that same scenario-The technique I use is throwing a flick shake senko type bait ( shad color or white)Counting it down and shaking it very quickly/violently- then letting it die. Its one of the only techniques that I can really count on when the bait is roaming around and the bass are underneath them. Ok Im done

Zip it man...lol

Umbrellas (I mean A rigs) are 80% off on TW...

We run into that up here on Champlain , drop a Carolina Rig on their heads. And Bobby's senko trick.

Nope- I am from that same scenario-The technique I use is throwing a flick shake senko type bait ( shad color or white)Counting it down and shaking it very quickly/violently- then letting it die. Its one of the only techniques that I can really count on when the bait is roaming around and the bass are underneath them. Ok Im done

you can vent to me about how you catch them..... 

thanks for all the suggestions, hopefully i can get out soon and test them out

I'm in Maine, and have had the same thing going on! I'm gonna follow the advice here too

Right now is ideal for lipless cranks, topwater, and the flickshake

Don't feel bad. I'm having a rough go of it lately.

 

Keep on 'em. You already did the hard part in finding the fish.

I'm in PA and I fish a lake that is like that, and I found that there are a couple ways to get them to bite, the best way is either a flutter spoon or a silver buddy blade bait depending on water temp. I also have had luck yo-yoing a lipless crankbait but the spoon in warm water works the best. The a-rig was made for that type of fishing but I don't like it and in my home state you are limited to 3 baits but if you don't mind throwing it that will work.

Silver buddy. Especially in the next few weeks.  Fish it just like you would a jig but a lot of takes happen on the fall. Lift and drop. This techniques really shines in November and late October.

I take this shad on a shakey2 head and just let it fall through the school and watch for the line movement.